The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-12-17
Religious and 1euntintra1.
THE MANY MANSIONS.
BY II. ELvET LEWIS.

for the first time cannot help experience
ing a peculiar sensation in entering the
Kyles of Butte from the open little Bay
of Rothesay. The passage is extreme
ly narrow, and in looking ahead it
seems to come to sudden ending.
The hills stand across like the walls of
death; their shadow fills the waters with
a somber gloom; and the waves break
on either shore with hollow sound.
Pent up and dark, and apparently
without an outlet; until on nearer ap-
proach the hills open out, like the gates
of death for conquering Christian.
Soon one breathes freely, as the MUIR
muir of the Atlantic comes up past the
Isle of Arran, reminding all OF the
wide reaches of blue sea beyond, with
no shadow of frowning hills brooding
on the sunlit waves.
In the Last Supper of the upper
chamber the eleven thought all their
hopes were to end in utter darkness.
Three years ago they had given up the
tasks and comforts Of life, they had
left their homes and their friends, for
the Saviour's sake. behold we have
forsaken all and followed Thee; what
shall we have therefore?" Judas I'M
masked and gone-the rest of them
overshadowed and disturbed by terri
BILE warning-to make the darkness
darker still, their only Friend was going
to leave them. The way was narrow
and gloomy, and the hills of Calvary's
midnight stretched across, till there
seemed to be no way out of these "sun-
less CULTS of doubt and death. But
"let not your hearts be troubled y n
In My Fathers house are many man.
sions." Beyond the hills of darkness
lies the infinite crystal sea; and though
the gates of God are narrow, the heav-
ems of God are large.
Many mansions!" An Eastern
king would sometimes make room for
all his SONS in his palace; not only the
heir, but each of the rest as well had a
mansion to himself. Christ hath
made us kings" unto God. If the
eleven would share no glory of an
earthly kingdom, there was a throne
prepared for them above the stars. If
no crown of vanishing glitter was to be
worn by them here, there was a crown
of righteousness laid up'' for them in
heaven. Every child of God is a king;
he has crown which no one else can
wear, a mansion which no one else can
take possession of, harp which re-
spends to no other touch-the Father
keeps them all for him.
In this portrayal of heaven as the
house of many mansions, there is a
clear revelation of the doctrine Of per-
sonal Immortality. Heaven is not to
be a dim existence, mere summer
haze of glorious being, bu5 home OF
living souls-every soul standing out in
Cl0dI duU uuulSUdhCu OuOAihC, hhO"AhS
itself and known of every other soul.
Each man will be himself. And yet,
while the eternal soul'' shall robe it
self in " eternal FORM" the society in
heaven will be an undivided and I'M
broken whole. The contamination of
true individuality is true unity. There
are many mansions in the house, but it
is only one home:-
"And we shall sit at endless feast,
Enjoying each the others good"
Personal immortality means devel-
opment of life amending in its strength
and variety. The brilliant imagery of
the Revelation of st. John has tended
to fill the mind of the Christian church
with heaven of one idea-a world of
golden harps. The harp is only SYM
bol-a symbol of the harmonious bios
soming of life. Every thought, every
prayer, every hope, every affection,
every sense of right, every soul-ideal-
will be a harp thrilling with eternal
song. The lily, that is whittier than the
snow of Lebanon, will grow in the same
garden as the rose that is filed with
the passionate glow of sunset on
northern shore in June. Many harps,
many mansions, many stars, many
flowers; they all speak Of heaven that
is every day new creation. Milton
will have no need to leave heaven to
sing again of " Paradise Lost" New
ton-on earth gathering the pebbles of
the shore-may take many a voyage
over summer seas to seek for the pearls
of knowledge that are far, far away.
Paul will not require to go away to an
other world to continue his study of
the problems of eternal pity and eter-
nal righteousness. No soul will ever
possess too much truth to quench
its divine longing for more still. A
heaven of eternal monotony could only
be the heaven of a God who had come
to the end of his love. The heaven of
God and of Jesus Christ can never
grow old.
When John Stuart Mill was passing
through a grave and dark crisis of
thought, he found much solace in the
study and practice of music. But one
reflection tormented him very seriously,